Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 700 / Act 386 of 1998
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.2502 (2026)

Execution; witnessed wills; holographic wills.

✓ current as of July 2026
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ESTATES AND PROTECTED INDIVIDUALS CODE


Act 386 of 1998


700.2502 Execution; witnessed wills; holographic wills.

Sec. 2502.

    (1) Subject to section 1202, and except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following:

    (a) In writing.

    (b) Signed by the testator or in the testator's name by some other individual in the testator's conscious presence and by the testator's direction.

    (c) Signed by at least 2 individuals, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after he or she witnessed either the signing of the will as described in subdivision (b) or the testator's acknowledgment of that signature or acknowledgment of the will.

    (2) A will that does not comply with subsection (1) is valid as a holographic will, whether or not witnessed, if it is dated, and if the testator's signature and the document's material portions are in the testator's handwriting.

    (3) Intent that the document constitutes a testator's will can be established by extrinsic evidence, including, for a holographic will, portions of the document that are not in the testator's handwriting.

    

    

History: 1998, Act 386, Eff. Apr. 1, 2000 ;-- Am. 2020, Act 246, Imd. Eff. Nov. 5, 2020

PopularName Notes:

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 26 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2002–2026 · leading case: Guardianship & Alternatives, Inc. v. Jones (In re Horton), 925 N.W.2d 207 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018).
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Guardianship & Alternatives, Inc. v. Jones (In re Horton), 925 N.W.2d 207 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 19× “Generally, to be *211 valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re Attia Est., 895 N.W.2d 564 (Mich. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 9× “Appellant subsequently filed a petition to determine whether an undated, unsigned will may be admitted to probate, contending that, although MCL 700.2502 requires that a will be signed, MCL 700.”
In Re Smith Est., 651 N.W.2d 153 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “2503 provides: Although a document or writing added upon a document was not executed in compliance with section 2502 [MCL 700.2502], the document or writing is treated as if it had been executed in compliance with that section if the proponent of the document or writing…”
in Re Horton Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 20× “Generally, to be valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re Horton Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 20× “Generally, to be valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re Attia Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 9× “Appellant subsequently filed a petition to determine whether an undated, unsigned will may be admitted to probate, contending that, although MCL 700.2502 requires that a will be signed, MCL 700.”
20241114_C369865_46_369865.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 9× “2513], a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re Warner Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 8× “For example, MCL 700.2502 sets forth the general requirements for a will to be valid pursuant to Michigan law.”
in Re Warner Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 8× “For example, MCL 700.2502 sets forth the general requirements for a will to be valid pursuant to Michigan law.”
Korean New Hope Assembly of God v. Haight, 651 N.W.2d 153 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “2503 provides: Although a document or writing added upon a document was not executed in compliance with section 2502 [MCL 700.2502], the document or writing is treated as if it had been executed in compliance with that section if the proponent of the document or writing…”
in Re Collier Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 5× “MCL 700.2502, which addresses the requirements of a valid will, states: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re McCarver Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “It is undisputed that the document dated July 29, 2013, which Azar petitioned to admit to probate, does not meet the requirements set forth in MCL 700.”
Show all 26 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.2502(1) — 8 cases
Guardianship & Alternatives, Inc. v. Jones (In re Horton), 925 N.W.2d 207 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “Generally, to be *211 valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re Horton Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “Generally, to be valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re Horton Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “Generally, to be valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
20241114_C369865_46_369865.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2024). “2513], a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re McCarver Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2016). “It is undisputed that the document dated July 29, 2013, which Azar petitioned to admit to probate, does not meet the requirements set forth in MCL 700.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.2502(1)(a) — 4 cases
in Re Warner Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “For example, MCL 700.2502 sets forth the general requirements for a will to be valid pursuant to Michigan law.”
in Re Warner Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “For example, MCL 700.2502 sets forth the general requirements for a will to be valid pursuant to Michigan law.”
in Re Dalpe Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018).
20241114_C369865_46_369865.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2024). “2513], a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.2502(1)(b) — 4 cases
in Re Attia Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2016). “Appellant subsequently filed a petition to determine whether an undated, unsigned will may be admitted to probate, contending that, although MCL 700.2502 requires that a will be signed, MCL 700.”
in Re Span Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2016).
in Re Collier Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2020). “MCL 700.2502, which addresses the requirements of a valid will, states: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
20241114_C369865_46_369865.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2024). “2513], a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.2502(1)(c) — 1 case
20241114_C369865_46_369865.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2024). “2513], a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.2502(2) — 8 cases
Guardianship & Alternatives, Inc. v. Jones (In re Horton), 925 N.W.2d 207 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “Generally, to be *211 valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re Horton Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “Generally, to be valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re Horton Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “Generally, to be valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re McCarver Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2016). “It is undisputed that the document dated July 29, 2013, which Azar petitioned to admit to probate, does not meet the requirements set forth in MCL 700.”
in Re Warner Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “For example, MCL 700.2502 sets forth the general requirements for a will to be valid pursuant to Michigan law.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.2502(3) — 6 cases
Guardianship & Alternatives, Inc. v. Jones (In re Horton), 925 N.W.2d 207 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “Generally, to be *211 valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
In Re Smith Est., 651 N.W.2d 153 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). “2503 provides: Although a document or writing added upon a document was not executed in compliance with section 2502 [MCL 700.2502], the document or writing is treated as if it had been executed in compliance with that section if the proponent of the document or writing…”
Korean New Hope Assembly of God v. Haight, 651 N.W.2d 153 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). “2503 provides: Although a document or writing added upon a document was not executed in compliance with section 2502 [MCL 700.2502], the document or writing is treated as if it had been executed in compliance with that section if the proponent of the document or writing…”
in Re Horton Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “Generally, to be valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
in Re Horton Est. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “Generally, to be valid, a will must be executed in compliance with MCL 700.2502, which provides: (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in sections 2503, 2506, and 2513, a will is valid only if it is all of the following: (a) In writing.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.2502(l)(b) — 1 case
in Re Attia Est., 895 N.W.2d 564 (Mich. Ct. App. 2016). “Appellant subsequently filed a petition to determine whether an undated, unsigned will may be admitted to probate, contending that, although MCL 700.2502 requires that a will be signed, MCL 700.”
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